Unit 3, Science and Technology | Exercises and Flashcards

Unit 3, Optimise B2 Exercises and Flashcards

These exercises focus on Unit 3, Optimise B2

Wordlist for Unit 3, Optimise B2

Word	Definition	Example
appliance	a piece of equipment, especially electrical equipment, such as a cooker or washing machine, used in people's homes	The most useful appliance in our house is the washing machine
create	to make something exist that did not exist before	Some people believe the universe was created by a big explosion
develop	to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time	My sister is only 19 but she has a great job developing IT systems
discover	to find someone or something, either by accident or because you were looking for them	Who discovered America?
engine	the part of a vehicle that produces power to make it move	The steam engine was invented by James Watt in the 18th century and was very important in the industrial revolution
generate	to produce or cause something	This radio doesn't use batteries, you generate electricity by moving this handle in a circle
invent	to make, design, or think of a new type of thing	Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989
machine	a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power such as electricity to do a particular job	There are machines at the bus stops where you can buy tickets
manufacture	to use machines to make goods or materials, usually in large numbers or amounts	Germany manufactures over 5 million cars every year
motor	the part of a machine that makes it work or move	Some cars now have motors which use petrol and electricity
remote control	a piece of equipment that you hold in your hand and use to control a television, DVD player, etc	This programme is boring ... You've got the remote control, can you change channel?
tool	a piece of equipment that you use with your hands to make or repair something	You need a special tool to open the smartphone
carry out	do work, research, experiments, etc	They're carrying out a survey about recycling
come on	develop, make progress	The building work on our new house is coming on nicely
come up with	think of an idea or a plan	We need to come up with some good ideas for raising money
figure out	calculate, solve a problem, understand a situation	I'm trying to figure out the answer to this crossword clue
look into	investigate	Police are looking into a series of burglaries in the local area
plug in	connect to a machine, the electricity supply, etc	Plug the printer in, then turn it on. It's that simple
high priority	of great importance	Getting a part-time job isn't a high priority for me, but it would be nice
high speed	moving, operating, or happening very quickly	Be very careful crossing that road – cars often drive down it at very high speed
high time	used to say that something should be done now	It's high time the council did something about this problem
high-definition	a system for showing very clear pictures on a television or computer screen or for producing very clear sound	The latest high-definition TVs have amazing picture quality
high-performance	able to operate to a high standard and at high speed	Ferrari make high-performance cars
high-powered	very powerful	A high-powered telescope allows you to see stars really clearly
high-tech	using the most advanced and developed machines and methods	Tim always has the latest high-tech equipment and gadgets
top award	an award is a prize or certificate that a person is given for doing something well	Winning an Academy Award is considered the top award for a film actor
top priority	of greatest importance	Getting a part-time job is my top priority right now. I'm desperate to earn some extra money!
top secret	protected by a high degree of secrecy	This information is top secret, so don't tell anyone!
top speed	the fastest speed a vehicle can move at	My mum's car has a top speed of 120 km/h, but she never drives that fast
achieve	to successfully complete something or get a good result, especially by working hard	She eventually achieved her goal of becoming a professor
achievement	something important that you succeed in doing by your own effort	We try to celebrate the achievements of our students
achiever	someone who is successful because they are determined and work hard	I guess it was clear to all that I was bright and an achiever
creativity	the ability to use your imagination to produce new ideas, make things etc	Editors complain about the lack of creativity in the ideas put to them
creator	someone who has invented something	He's the creator of a successful cartoon series
creative	producing or using original and unusual ideas	They used rather creative methods to impress investors
creation	the act of creating something, or the thing that is created	She was responsible for the creation of a new charity
discovery	the act of finding something that had not been known before	Many scientific discoveries have been made by accident
discoverer	someone who discovers something	They were the discoverers of the structure of DNA
explore	to think or talk about something in order to find out more about it	Let's explore this issue/idea more fully
explorer	someone who travels to places where no one has ever been in order to find out what is there	Magellan was a famous 16th-century explorer
exploration	the activity of searching and finding out about something:	The exploration for new sources of energy is vital for the future of our planet
exploratory	done in order to discover more about something	She's having some exploratory tests done to find out what's causing the illness
fortunate	lucky	He was fortunate in his choice of assistant
unfortunate	unlucky or having bad effects	She has inherited her father's large nose, which is very unfortunate
fortune	a large amount of money, goods, property, etc	He lost a fortune gambling
science	knowledge about the world, especially based on examining, testing, and proving facts	Space travel is one of the wonders of modern science
scientist	an expert who studies or works in one of the sciences	There are scientists who say that the results of the research are flawed
scientific	relating to science, or using the organized methods of science	We will have to adopt a more scientific approach in the future
scientifically	in a way that relates to science, or uses the methods of science	He approaches everything very scientifically
simple	easy to understand or do; not difficult	The instructions were written in simple English
simply	only	I don't like my job - I simply do it for the money
simplicity	the fact that something is easy to understand or do	The advantage of the plan is its simplicity
simplify	to make something less complicated and therefore easier to do or understand	He tried to simplify the story for the younger audience
solve	to find an answer to a problem	ust calm down - shouting won't solve anything!
solution	the answer to a problem	There's no easy solution to this problem

Illustration of Unit 3, Science and Technology

FAQ

What is the difference between "invent" and "discover"?

Invent means to create something new that didn’t exist before (Thomas Edison invented the light bulb).
Discover means to find something that already exists but was unknown (Scientists discovered a new planet).

How does "machine" differ from "appliance" and "tool"?

A machine is a general term for a device with moving parts that performs a task (A washing machine cleans clothes).
An appliance is a type of machine used in homes (A microwave is a kitchen appliance).
A tool is a handheld or simple device used to perform a specific function (A hammer is a tool used for building).

What is "high-tech" and how is it different from "high-powered"?

High-tech refers to advanced, modern technology (This smartphone has high-tech features).
High-powered describes something with a lot of strength or energy (This is a high-powered microscope).

What does "come up with" mean in science and technology?

"Come up with" means to think of or create an idea, invention, or solution (She came up with a new way to store solar energy).

What’s the difference between "scientific" and "scientifically"?

Scientific (adjective) describes something related to science (They used a scientific approach to study the virus).
Scientifically (adverb) describes how something is done using scientific methods (This theory is scientifically proven).

How can I use "top priority" and "high priority"?

Top priority means the most important thing (Solving climate change is a top priority).
High priority means something very important but not necessarily the most urgent (Improving internet security is a high priority).